had nodded to them both wishing them a good day, brother and sister smiling happily at each other.
The rest of the week had passed in a daze for Mina, growing so used to the relaxed pace on the island, loving the people in the villa, finding them accepting her as one of their own very quickly. Some afternoons after visiting her mother she would stop to see Francesca, the two women often having coffee together as she had confided in her about Yanis and her plans for their wedding the following year.
“Nikos is so kind…he has offered to let us use his estate…and he even insists on paying for all the food and …well everything”.
With a soft smile she had looked up at Mina.
“He told us that he considered Yanis to be like a brother” chuckling “Yanis was so touched he had to do that ‘there’s something in my eye’ thing guys do” Mina laughing with her as the other woman had become serious once more.
“But he is a good man, and there would be a lot of people on this island out of work without him”.
The only shadow on her life was her mother’s condition. Each day she would spend time with her, seeing the contentment that filled her being back at the villa. Mina aware as her whole being had seemed to relax, the small wistful happy smile always on her serene features.
However, each day she had arrived, there were small tell-tale signs of her mother’s deterioration. To start with she had been so concerned with how her daughter could possibly afford the villa; Mina determined not to let her know the details. When pushed hard one day, she had decided on half the truth, telling her mother that the Villa had belonged to Alexander’s step-son and when he had found out about her condition had made it freely available to them.
“Nikos…Nikos insisted?” had been her only words as she had sank back into her chair, a happy light filling her eyes, Mina not quite sure why having this from him would matter to her, but matter it did.
By the end of the second week, her mother was starting to have problems rising from her chair, her breathing ragged, the effort exhausting her, Mina watching with fear filled eyes as her mother weakened so noticeably each day.
Mid week of her third week in Nikos’ home, she had as usual arrived at the villa Aqua, parking in her usual spot. Frowning she had tried the door finding it locked, pressing the doorbell for her mother to answer. After several minutes, she had felt the panic rise, as with shaky fingers she had fished out her key, throwing the door open seeing the obvious signs that nobody had carried out any of the usual morning rituals, all the blinds still closed. Crying out to her, Mina had rushed to her mother’s room, holding back the cry of shock seeing her lying in bed; her eyes closed her body so still. With legs that shook so alarmingly she had moved forward, breathing a sigh of relief the terror which had swamped her receding as she had seen her mother’s chest rise, the movement almost unnoticeable as she had dropped to her knees beside the bed taking her hand.
“Mum?” she had whispered, gently shaking the small woman, repeating herself until her eyes had fluttered open slightly.
“Mina?” she had finally managed, struggling hard to get the words out as she had gasped for air.
“I…It’s OK…stop talking” she had whispered, trying hard not to let her fear be heard on her voice.
“I’m just going to phone for the doctor” she had said softly, her mother nodding, not even having the strength to argue.
Lifting the receiver, she had made the call, holding her mother’s hand, comforting her until the doctor had arrived. He had been a happy fatherly-looking man, who had joked and talked soothingly the whole time as he had examined her mother before taking Mina into the other room, his countenance changing quickly to one of concern.
“I am going to call for an ambulance to take your mother into hospital. She needs to start on oxygen right away
The rest of the week had passed in a daze for Mina, growing so used to the relaxed pace on the island, loving the people in the villa, finding them accepting her as one of their own very quickly. Some afternoons after visiting her mother she would stop to see Francesca, the two women often having coffee together as she had confided in her about Yanis and her plans for their wedding the following year.
“Nikos is so kind…he has offered to let us use his estate…and he even insists on paying for all the food and …well everything”.
With a soft smile she had looked up at Mina.
“He told us that he considered Yanis to be like a brother” chuckling “Yanis was so touched he had to do that ‘there’s something in my eye’ thing guys do” Mina laughing with her as the other woman had become serious once more.
“But he is a good man, and there would be a lot of people on this island out of work without him”.
The only shadow on her life was her mother’s condition. Each day she would spend time with her, seeing the contentment that filled her being back at the villa. Mina aware as her whole being had seemed to relax, the small wistful happy smile always on her serene features.
However, each day she had arrived, there were small tell-tale signs of her mother’s deterioration. To start with she had been so concerned with how her daughter could possibly afford the villa; Mina determined not to let her know the details. When pushed hard one day, she had decided on half the truth, telling her mother that the Villa had belonged to Alexander’s step-son and when he had found out about her condition had made it freely available to them.
“Nikos…Nikos insisted?” had been her only words as she had sank back into her chair, a happy light filling her eyes, Mina not quite sure why having this from him would matter to her, but matter it did.
By the end of the second week, her mother was starting to have problems rising from her chair, her breathing ragged, the effort exhausting her, Mina watching with fear filled eyes as her mother weakened so noticeably each day.
Mid week of her third week in Nikos’ home, she had as usual arrived at the villa Aqua, parking in her usual spot. Frowning she had tried the door finding it locked, pressing the doorbell for her mother to answer. After several minutes, she had felt the panic rise, as with shaky fingers she had fished out her key, throwing the door open seeing the obvious signs that nobody had carried out any of the usual morning rituals, all the blinds still closed. Crying out to her, Mina had rushed to her mother’s room, holding back the cry of shock seeing her lying in bed; her eyes closed her body so still. With legs that shook so alarmingly she had moved forward, breathing a sigh of relief the terror which had swamped her receding as she had seen her mother’s chest rise, the movement almost unnoticeable as she had dropped to her knees beside the bed taking her hand.
“Mum?” she had whispered, gently shaking the small woman, repeating herself until her eyes had fluttered open slightly.
“Mina?” she had finally managed, struggling hard to get the words out as she had gasped for air.
“I…It’s OK…stop talking” she had whispered, trying hard not to let her fear be heard on her voice.
“I’m just going to phone for the doctor” she had said softly, her mother nodding, not even having the strength to argue.
Lifting the receiver, she had made the call, holding her mother’s hand, comforting her until the doctor had arrived. He had been a happy fatherly-looking man, who had joked and talked soothingly the whole time as he had examined her mother before taking Mina into the other room, his countenance changing quickly to one of concern.
“I am going to call for an ambulance to take your mother into hospital. She needs to start on oxygen right away
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